Patents Assigned to SiO2 Medical Products, Inc.
  • Patent number: 9903782
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods for testing the integrity of a barrier coating on a vessel. An off gas test fixture includes a face seal positioned about an opening of the vessel. A side seal is positioned about a portion of the vessel's wall and separated from the face seal by a space. Additionally, a cover may be secured to the fixture that encompasses an interface portion of the fixture and the vessel. Before and/or during testing, gas in the space between the side and face seals may be evacuated, as well as gas present in an interior area of the vessel. The vessel may be exposed to test gas(es) that is soluble by the plastic material of the vessel before and/or after being secured to the fixture. During testing, test gas(es) desorbed by the vessel may be evacuated, with the molecular flow being measured using a mass extraction unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: SiO2 Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Fisk, Peter J. Sagona, Joseph A. Jones
  • Patent number: 9863042
    Abstract: A method for coating a substrate surface such as a syringe part by PECVD is provided, the method comprising generating a plasma from a gaseous reactant comprising an organosilicon precursor and optionally an oxidizing gas by providing plasma-forming energy adjacent to the substrate, thus forming a coating on the substrate surface by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). The plasma-forming energy is applied in a first phase as a first pulse at a first energy level followed by further treatment in a second phase at a second energy level lower than the first energy level. The lubricity, hydrophobicity and/or barrier properties of the coating are set by setting the ratio of the O2 to the organosilicon precursor in the gaseous reactant, and/or by setting the electric power used for generating the plasma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: SiO2 Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Jones, John T. Felts, James Troy Gresham, Brian Russell Lilly, Thomas E. Fisk
  • Patent number: 9855577
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for applying a needle lubricant to a syringe. The interface forces between the needle lubricant and the syringe at the tip of the needle are balanced by optimizing the flow rate of a positively pressurized gas that is delivered to the syringe. Such optimization prevents the formation of bubbles in the needle lubricant that is applied to the syringe, thereby providing a confluent, uniform and smooth lubricant coating on the exterior wall of the needle and prevents lubricant from contaminating inner portions of the syringe. The smooth and uniform lubricant coating may minimize dilation and glide forces and pain associated with the insertion of the needle into a patient's tissue. Additionally, a gas pulse may blows off the droplet of needle lubricant from the tip of the needle to further minimize dilation forces and associated patient pain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: SiO2 Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: John Belfance, Jonathan Carleton Alt, Renato Gross, Zachary Dean Freeman, Benjamin Hunt, John Ferguson
  • Patent number: 9764093
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for plasma modifying a workpiece such as a syringe barrel, cartridge barrel, vial, or blood tube is described. Plasma is provided within the lumen of the workpiece. The plasma is provided under conditions effective for plasma modification of a surface of the workpiece. A magnetic field is provided in at least a portion of the lumen. The magnetic field has an orientation and field strength effective to improve the uniformity of plasma modification of the interior surface of the generally cylindrical wall. A vessel made according to the process or using the apparatus described above. A pharmaceutical package comprising the syringe barrel or vial containing a pharmaceutical preparation, secured with a closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: SIO2 Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Weikart, Becky L. Clark, Adam Stevenson, Robert S. Abrams, John Belfance
  • Patent number: 9545360
    Abstract: A method for providing a saccharide based lubricating or protective coating or layer on a substrate surface is provided. In particular, a lubricity and/or protective coating or layer made by said method is provided. Pharmaceutical packages or other vessels coated by said method and the use of such pharmaceutical packages or other vessels protecting a compound or composition contained or received in said vessel with a protective coating against mechanical and/or chemical effects of the surface of the vessel without a protective coating material are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: SiO2 Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Felts, Thomas E. Fisk, Robert S. Abrams, John Ferguson, Jonathan R. Freedman, Robert J. Pangborn, Peter Sagona, Christopher Weikart, Jacob Israelachvili
  • Publication number: 20160243308
    Abstract: A convertible plunger is provided comprising an internal portion and a generally cylindrical exterior surface. At least a portion of the exterior surface is maintained in an initial expanded state by a property of the internal portion. The expanded state is reducible to a constricted state by an operation that is applied to the internal portion of the plunger to alter the property. A film coating may also be applied to a sidewall of the sleeve to reduce a sliding friction between the sleeve and barrel. A film coating may also be applied to a nose cone of the plunger to provide a barrier between the plunger and product in the barrel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Applicant: SIO2 Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Giraud, Bernard Sol, Robert J. Pangborn, Robert S. Abrams, Joseph W. Rogers, Peter J. Sagona, Mchael J. Mims
  • Publication number: 20160074862
    Abstract: An article of laboratory ware is disclosed comprising a body and a chemical vapor deposition coating. The body is made of thermoplastic material (“thermoplastic” includes glass or polymer resins) having a support surface. The chemical vapor deposition coating is applied directly or indirectly on the support surface. The coating defines a contact surface having a wetting tension of from 20 to 75 dyne/cm, for example. Useful wetting tensions beyond this range are contemplated as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Applicant: SiO2 Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Breaux, Daniel Ingram
  • Publication number: 20150293031
    Abstract: A reflectometry method and other methods for detecting discontinuities in a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) coating are disclosed. The method includes several steps. A thermoplastic vessel wall (710) is provided having an outside surface, an inside surface, and a CVD coating on at least one of the inside and outside surfaces. The vessel wall and the CVD coating have different indices of refraction. Electromagnetic energy (718) is impinged on multiple positions of the CVD coating under conditions effective to cause energy to reflect from the multiple positions of the CVD coating. The reflected energy is analyzed to determine whether the reflected energy includes at least one artifact of a discontinuity in the CVD coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Applicant: SiO2 Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas E. Fisk
  • Publication number: 20150126941
    Abstract: A method for providing a saccharide based lubricating or protective coating or layer on a substrate surface is provided. In particular, a lubricity and/or protective coating or layer made by said method is provided. Pharmaceutical packages or other vessels coated by said method and the use of such pharmaceutical packages or other vessels protecting a compound or composition contained or received in said vessel with a protective coating against mechanical and/or chemical effects of the surface of the vessel without a protective coating material are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: SiO2 Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Felts, Thomas E. Fisk, Robert S. Abrams, John Ferguson, Jonathan R. Freedman, Robert J. Pangborn, Peter Sagona, Christopher Weikart, Jacob Israelachvili
  • Publication number: 20150114871
    Abstract: A vial storage and transportation assembly (10) includes a vial tray (130), a transport lid (100), and a processing lid (200). The transport (100) and the processing lid (200) are interchangeably engageable with the vial tray (30) to house a plurality rt lid vials therein, to shift the assembly (10) between a transport configuration and a processing configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: SiO2 Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Fitzpatrick, Randy Crenshaw
  • Publication number: 20150098084
    Abstract: A method for inspecting the product of a coating process is provided. In certain embodiments, the release of at least one volatile species from the coated surface into the gas space adjacent to the coated surface is measured and the result is compared with the result for at least one reference object measured under the same test conditions. Microbalance weighing methods are also disclosed to detect and distinguish among PECVD coatings. Thus the presence or absence of the coating, and/or a physical and/or chemical property of the coating can be determined. The method is useful for inspecting any coated articles, e.g. vessels. Its application on the inspection of PECVD coatings made from organosilicon precursors, especially of barrier coatings, is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: SIO2 Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Felts, Thomas E. Fisk, Robert S. Abrams, John Ferguson, Jonathan R. Freedman, Robert J. Pangborn, Peter J. Sagona, Christopher Weikart
  • Publication number: 20150021339
    Abstract: A method for providing a passivation layer or pH protective coating on a substrate surface by PECVD is provided, the method comprising generating a plasma from a gaseous reactant comprising polymerizing gases. The lubricity, passivation, pH protective, hydrophobicity, and/or barrier properties of the passivation layer or pH protective coating are set by setting the ratio of the O2 to the organosilicon precursor in the precursor feed, and/or by setting the electric power used for generating the plasma. In particular, a passivation layer or pH protective coating made by the method is provided. Pharmaceutical packages coated by the method and the use of such packages protecting a composition contained in the vessel against mechanical and/or chemical effects of the surface of the package without a passivation layer or pH protective coating material are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: SIO2 Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Felts, Thomas E. Fisk, Robert S. Abrams, John Ferguson, Jonathan R. Freedman, Robert J. Pangborn, Peter J. Sagona, Christopher Weikart
  • Patent number: 8834954
    Abstract: Methods for processing a vessel, for example to provide a gas barrier or lubricity, are disclosed. First and second PECVD or other vessel processing stations or devices and a vessel holder comprising a vessel port are provided. An opening of the vessel can be seated on the vessel port. The interior surface of the seated vessel can be processed via the vessel port by the first and second processing stations or devices. Vessel barrier, lubricity and hydrophobic coatings and coated vessels, for example syringes and medical sample collection tubes are disclosed. A vessel processing system and vessel inspection apparatus and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: SIO2 Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Felts, Thomas E. Fisk, Robert S. Abrams, John Ferguson, Jonathan R. Freedman, Robert J. Pangborn, Peter J. Sagona
  • Publication number: 20140004022
    Abstract: A chromatography vial is disclosed comprising a thermoplastic wall and a coating on the wall. The coating comprises a PECVD barrier coating or layer of SiOx, where x is from 1.5 to 2.9, on the interior surface of the vial wall. Also disclosed is a method of applying the barrier coating of SiOx, in which x is from about 1.5 to about 2.9, on a chromatography vial as identified above. Other functional layers, such as a pH protective layer and a tie layer, can also be included as part of the coating on the wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: SiO2 Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Sagona, Jason Breaux